Cloud storage services like Google Photos and Dropbox force you to pay more for storage. And can you really trust these corporations to respect your privacy? For those who want to move away from cloud storage, BeeStation from Synology this is the simplest and most convenient solution.
BeeStation is network attached storage (NAS) deviceessentially a 4TB hard drive that connects to your internet router. You can upload files, photos and videos to BeeStation from your smartphone, PC or tablet, whether you are at home or away. Of course, you can also retrieve these files at any time or share them with others via private links.
More importantly, BeeStation comes with a set of extremely user-friendly companion apps. Eat BiFileswhich is similar to Dropbox or Google Drive, and Bee photosthe format of which is similar to Apple Photos and Google Photos. BeeFiles even offers advanced features like AI search—you can search for photos by where they were taken, who's in the photo, or what's happened in the photo (like a cat or a raccoon, for example). Files and photos can be backed up automatically using these apps, and you can even sync specific files or folders between your BeeStation and your PC.
Of course, the BeeStation is just one of many NAS devices available today. And any NAS device you buy (or build) Maybe act as a replacement for Google Photos or Dropbox. But Synology BeeStation is specifically designed for ease of use. The installation process takes minutes and doesn't require any knowledge, and since BeeStation is focused on storing files and photos (as opposed to complex “home lab” stuff), it's pretty hard to screw anything up.
But there are some caveats here. The BeeStation is technically less capable than a homemade NAS device as it cannot install or run any additional applications. And because it only contains one hard drive, there is no built-in data redundancy. If the internal drive fails, you will lose your data. Luckily you Maybe Automatically back up to an external drive via USB. There is also the option to perform regular backups to cloud storage such as Dropbox, but then you're missing out on the cost-saving and privacy benefits that the BeeStation offers, so I suggest using an external drive if that's important to you.
Synology BeeStation costs $220, which is about $100 more than you'd pay for a separate 4TB hard drive. I'd say the software and ease of installation are worth the extra $100, but if you disagree, you can always give it a try. using a desktop PC as a NAS. There is also an upgraded 8TB BeeStation Plus model that retails for $410 and offers Plex features in addition to the basic functions of storing files and photos.
7/10
- Brand
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Sinology
- CPU
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Realtek RTD1619B
- Memory
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1 GB DDR4 memory
- Drive Base
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1 x 4 TB hard drive
Store, access and share files online, from your desktop or mobile devices with BeeStation.
Share storage with family and friends so everyone has their own personal storage space. Back up files from Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and external drives to one central location.
